McCloughan was "blindsided" by the 49ers

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 19, 2010, 5:05 PM EDT

As league insiders continue to try to figure out exactly what prompted the 49ers to part ways with G.M. Scot McCloughan only five weeks before the draft, Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports take a thorough look at the situation.

And Silver reports that McCloughan was “blindsided” by the news that he received on Wednesday regarding his future, or lack of one, with the franchise.

Silver also takes aim at the 49ers for failing to provide their paying customers with a clear explanation for the unusual news. Or, for that matter, any explanation. We’d agree with Silver, if McCloughan had been fired for cause — like the Browns did with former G.M. George Kokinis. “Cause” implies that something serious happened, and if the team thinks that then the team needs to let the world know what it was.

When it comes to terminating a guy without cause (or, at a minimum, placing him on some type of paid leave of absence), the team can do whatever it wants and the team owes no one any explanation.

Especially if the team is concerned that sharing personnel information could expose the team to liability under the fairly (to say the least) progressive laws of the state of California.

I would like to know what happened but the team doesn’t owe it to anyone. It’s a private business and they can do as they wish. If you’re that concerned as a Niners fan, don’t go to the games. It’s an HR matter internally and they technically aren’t allowed to say anything about it.

raidresnation says:Mar 19, 2010 5:10 PM

McCloughan was “blindsided” by the 49ers
lol
The title speaks volumes.
The SF “Bathouses”49ers destruction is coming.

whatev says:Mar 19, 2010 5:12 PM

personnel or personal?

raidresnation says:Mar 19, 2010 5:18 PM

McCloughan’s rectum was “blindsided” by the San Francisco……
Love,
AL Davis
Your Master.
Bow down to me.

TexansMike says:Mar 19, 2010 5:30 PM

We’ll know after the draft. That’s when he will be released.

Gautam says:Mar 19, 2010 5:35 PM

progressive laws of California ? how so ?

PaulKemp says:Mar 19, 2010 5:39 PM

Good, I’m glad he’s gone, let Samurai Mike take full control….

ZombieRevolution says:Mar 19, 2010 5:44 PM

“Silver also takes aim at the 49ers for failing to provide their paying customers with a clear explanation for the unusual news.”
“When it comes to terminating a guy without cause (or, at a minimum, placing him on some type of paid leave of absence), the team can do whatever it wants and the team owes no one any explanation.”
Spoken like the lawyer that found this site. Of course if enough of the ticket base complains the team will provide some sort explanation.

Dirte says:Mar 19, 2010 5:46 PM

Silver just keeps losing friends in the league…

StevieMo says:Mar 19, 2010 5:51 PM

It just makes the team look bad (and, believe me, they look bad all the time) to have all the fans and media running around throwing out assorted theories as to why he was terminated.
Sure, Niners, we’d all love things like this to remain “our little secret”, but when you’re dealing with a high-profile guy in the NFL, it’s naive to think you can pull that kind of thing off. The Yorks and their so-called management should have known that ahead of time, but they’re all a bunch of amateurs.

windex666 says:Mar 19, 2010 5:59 PM

They should have fired him for picking Chilo Rachal over Desean Jackson; or Alex Smith over Rodgers. 49ers are better without him.

Henchman #24 says:Mar 19, 2010 6:26 PM

windex666, Rodgers would’ve been a colossal bust in SF, and Alex would be a Pro Bowler if he’d been able to sit behind Favre for years. Apples and oranges.
Rachal over Jackson, though, was a terrible pick. Rachal still hasn’t put it together, and it’s not like right guard has anywhere near the learning curve of WR.

whatthehellisgoingonoutthere says:Mar 19, 2010 6:40 PM

PaulKemp says: March 19, 2010 5:39 PM
Good, I’m glad he’s gone, let Samurai Mike take full control….
—————
Spoken like a true football fan who has no clue about how a team’s personnel department is run. He’s an inexperienced head coach and an even more inexperienced GM.

tatum32 says:Mar 19, 2010 7:04 PM

# windex666 says: March 19, 2010 5:59 PM
They should have fired him for picking Chilo Rachal over Desean Jackson; or Alex Smith over Rodgers. 49ers are better without him.
=============================
Yeah, Rachal over Jackson was a terrible pick. I want to just add that its disturbing news for a Raider fan as well – “mysteriously idiotic” moves are usually our domain….
As for 49ers being better without him….could they be any worse?

jrjas1 says:Mar 19, 2010 7:16 PM

Cali is an at will state which means you can quit or be fired at any time with out cause.

SeeUInTheSuperbowl says:Mar 19, 2010 7:17 PM

Poor guy drops the soap, and this is how you treat him?

FlorioIsAlwaysWrong says:Mar 19, 2010 9:36 PM

jrjas1 says:
March 19, 2010 7:16 PM
Cali is an at will state which means you can quit or be fired at any time with out cause.
___________________________________
At will state pertains to at will contracts only. Any NFL contract is guarenteed and can only be voided for reason set inside of the contract.
Now lets move on to Mr Silver. Silver is a very good friend of McCloughan. Again I feel his article brings up many, many valid points but I always believe in matters of public affair the first guy to speak is usually the one who needs to get his side out first cause he did the wrong thing. McCloughan letting his little buddy Silver write this article, and don’t kid yourself McCloughan himself is Silver’s source as the two dine together ALWAYS when they are int he same town, screams something bigger is going on here.
I am dying to know what that is. Could Jed York really be more inept then his Mother and Father? I don’t know. Silver’s point in this article about Parag trying to gain control is not looking great right now considering he is spending most of his time on the London game while Singeltary, Jed York and the director of Pro personnell handle meeting with free agents. I think Mr. Silver mght have been doing his old friend a favor here.
When will the 49ers release the fact that McCloughan did not show up to work, claiming illness and family matters for two straight days last week. What about the fact taht again those illness and family matters made Mike Singeltary get on a plane to go scout Pro Days? And yes all of this in the middle of the draft prep that Mike Silver wants to give McCloughan all of the credit for. Someone is lying here lets wait until all the news is out to see who it is.